Season 2018

Tipped by many as a future world champion, Nicolas Gilsoul started his co-driving career on home ground, tackling a variety of Belgian national events from 2000.

He stepped-up to the international stage in 2003 when he paired with fellow Belgian Bruno Thiry for a FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) campaign, finishing third overall.

More European events followed with a variety of Belgian drivers until 2010, including his WRC debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2007.

In 2011 he began a new partnership with Thierry Neuville. Two wins in that year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) earned them a season at the Citroën Junior World Rally Team in 2012, the highlight of which was fourth place at Rallye de France.

Gilsoul followed Neuville to the Qatar M-Sport World Rally Team in 2013 and the pair had their most successful season to date. Four consecutive second places and the runner-up spot in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships ensured they were top of the list when the fledgling Hyundai squad was looking for its 2014 team leaders.

A maiden podium in Mexico with the Korean manufacturer’s i20 WRC was followed by a first victory later in the season in Germany. In comparison, 2015 proved disappointing but they bounced back in 2016 to finish championship runners-up after victory in Italy and an end-of-season run of five consecutive podiums.

The pair secured four outright victories in 2017, twice as many as Sébastien Ogier, but again they just lost out arch rival - taking second place one more time.